Chương 81: Too Fast! Too Fast!

Too Fast!

Su Zhe did not know whether this counted as comprehension. Besides, both Yushen and Li Shanyun had chalked up his ability to absorb incense faith to his so-called Root-Bone Altered Body. Only Su Zhe himself knew the truth. The changes and mysteries in him came from the Creation Immortal Cauldron, not that supposed "Root-Bone Altered Body." Because of that, no matter how strange or profound the matter seemed, Su Zhe could hardly explain it to outsiders. He could only digest and analyze it on his own. Overall…

At least for now, the changes were still pretty good. … Another two days hurried by. Su Zhe grew more and more familiar with the Form-Intent Twelve True Dragons Technique. Starting with the Tiger Form and Snake Form, he began attempting the Outer Three Harmonies.

"I'm leaving. After the New Year, we'll meet at Zhu Jian Shanzhuang (Sword Forging Mountain Villa)."

"Once you enter Zhu Jian Shanzhuang, there'll still be an assessment. If you can fight your way to a good ranking…"

"The rewards definitely won't be small. You'd better make this old lady proud!" Yushen had guided Su Zhe in his cultivation for two days. Feeling that Su Zhe had already gotten on the right track, she no longer felt like staying here and decided to leave.

"Understood. This disciple will not disgrace our lineage." Su Zhe bowed. A faint reluctance showed in his eyes. Though he and Yushen, this bargain of a master, had not spent much time together, she had never held anything back when teaching him. She had done her absolute best. As a benefactor and teacher, she was no less important than Sun Tiexin. Su Zhe was sincerely grateful to Yushen.

"Don't give me that act. This old lady doesn't like it." Seeing the look in Su Zhe's eyes, Yushen's mouth twitched before she cursed at him. Only then did Su Zhe remember. This master of his was known as the "Asura Child Matriarch." She had once slaughtered an entire city with just herself and a hammer. This kind of sentimental behavior, in Yushen's eyes, was nothing but affectation.

"Take this!" Before Su Zhe could react, Yushen had already stuffed a piece of bone into his hand. Su Zhe focused his gaze on it. The object was about the size of an adult's palm and shaped like a tortoise shell. It was a precious bone, already jade-like in texture and glowing with a brilliant sheen. Tiny words covered its surface like scattered stars, mysterious and unfathomable. Su Zhe gathered internal force into his eyes.

Only then did he make out the small characters written on it— True Martial Insights of the Twelve Forms.

"This is… a record of Master's annotations and insights into the Twelve Forms?" Su Zhe said in surprise.

"Pour some internal force into it and see." Yushen reminded him meaningfully. Without another word, Su Zhe pushed a thread of internal force into the precious bone. As the internal force entered, light suddenly burst forth. In an instant, it transformed into a barbaric dragon. The dragon looked ancient and primal. Its entire body was packed with knotted muscle, imposing and majestic. Its dragon scales were like armor, seemingly indestructible. Its eyes were like lightning, radiating brilliant light.

Its claws were like hooks, sharp beyond compare. The image was vivid and lifelike, as if it would break free from the wall at any moment and soar into the nine heavens.

"A thread of Martial Dao Yang Spirit?! This—!" Su Zhe was shocked and cried out despite himself.

"This came from a spirit tortoise I killed while traveling the world. This old lady smashed off a piece of its shell."

"At first, it didn't seem to have much use. Whenever I gained new insight into the Martial Dao, I recorded it on there."

"Only later did I discover that this thing could preserve Martial Dao Yang Spirit for a long time. I haven't been idle these past few days either. I separated a thread of my Yang Spirit and infused it into the shell. During this period, when you cultivate martial arts, you can study the True Insights of the Twelve Forms on it and verify your Martial Dao."

"At the same time, you can observe the Barbaric Dragon Form and use it to check your own flaws." Unauthorized duplication: this narrative has been taken without consent. Report sightings. Yushen explained to Su Zhe.

"Master once said that only Grandmaster experts can make their Yang Spirit exist long in the world, travel through the void, and cross ten thousand li."

"I never expected that such a divine object existed in this world, allowing someone to use a Grandmaster's methods." Su Zhe let out a long sigh, filled with emotion. His eyes burned brightly, as if filled with endless yearning. When he looked at the spirit tortoise precious bone shell again, it was as though he had obtained a priceless treasure. It seemed to contain a whole universe within it, like an ancient secret treasure filled with endless mysteries.

It truly was a rare object of the world, enough to make one's heart race and imagination run wild.

"See you at Zhu Jian Shanzhuang!" Seeing Su Zhe like this, Yushen shook her head and left behind a single sentence. Her figure vanished from Artisan Heart Courtyard No. 1. Su Zhe raised his head, only to see Yushen already stepping through the air, her figure growing smaller and smaller. Su Zhe bowed once more toward her departing silhouette.

"That brat comes from humble origins, and his horizons really are shallow."

"A mere tortoise shell makes him act like he's found a priceless treasure."

"When he gets to Zhu Jian Shanzhuang, I'll have to broaden his horizons so he doesn't embarrass this old lady!" Yushen muttered to herself. She was clearly quite invested in this disciple. …

"Good fortune! This is real good fortune!" Su Zhe gripped the spirit tortoise precious bone shell, the corners of his mouth rising uncontrollably. Just now, he had connected his mind to the Creation Immortal Cauldron. [Name: Spirit Tortoise Precious Bone Shell] [Quality: Seventh-Grade Spirit Weapon] [Description: A corner of the shell from a Clear Water Spirit Tortoise. Possesses the ability to ward off water, store internal force, and preserve Yang Spirit.] [Equipment Conditions: Two of the Twelve Forms must reach the Outer Three Harmonies realm.] [Equipment Entries: Root-Bone Stacking, Talent Stacking, Increased Comprehension of Water-Element Martial Dao, Water-Warding Ability (Seventh Grade, greatly improves water affinity and grants immunity to cold water), Tortoise Dragon Scale Armor (Seventh Grade, greatly increases physical defense).] [Special Acquisition: The tortoise shell records Martial Dao insights of the Twelve Forms and allows control over the thread of Martial Dao Yang Spirit within it, which can unleash the power of one strike.] The words revealed by the Creation Immortal Cauldron radiated treasure light. Su Zhe felt as though even his sea of consciousness was shrouded in that light, so bright he could barely open his eyes.

"A seventh-grade spirit weapon!" Su Zhe's heart pounded wildly. Zhu Jian Shanzhuang really was ridiculously wealthy. Previously, the silk scroll that recorded the Flood Dragon Technique had also been made of special material and had been judged by the Creation Immortal Cauldron as a third-grade mortal weapon. Now this tortoise shell was the same.

"So as long as two of the Twelve Forms reach the Outer Three Harmonies realm, I can equip it?" Su Zhe put away the spirit tortoise precious bone shell and tucked it into his robes. The moment he thought of the equipment conditions for the shell, Su Zhe's confidence surged. He had once cultivated the Fiend Tiger Saber and Spirit Snake Sword to the stage of Great Perfection. Because of that, cultivating the Tiger Form and Snake Form among the Twelve Forms was half the effort for twice the result.

And once he equipped the spirit tortoise precious bone shell, he would be able to obtain Yushen's Martial Dao insights into the Twelve Forms. That also meant that when Su Zhe cultivated the Twelve Forms, he would essentially be walking through the path once more by following the memories.

"Master, after the New Year, I'm afraid I'll give you quite a shock!" Su Zhe could not help laughing. Train martial arts! Train martial arts! Only training martial arts could make me happy! … Early the next morning. The disciples and elders of the Blacksmith Gang gathered in the Martial Hall. Su Zhe ate breakfast at the Su Residence before arriving at the Blacksmith Gang. The current Blacksmith Gang had been reduced to ruins. Everything was waiting to be rebuilt, and reconstruction was still underway.

"These Twelve Forms really are hard to practice." Su Zhe's back ached, his waist was sore, and he looked somewhat dispirited. The Outer Three Harmonies were about turning the human form into the beast form. One even had to use internal force to alter the tendons, bones, and skin. Su Zhe had been extremely diligent in his cultivation, but the bone-deep pain and itchiness of practicing the Outer Three Harmonies reminded him of the first time he had cultivated the Barbaric Ox Hammer.

"Greetings, Gang Leader Su Zhe!" The Blacksmith Gang disciples bowed to Su Zhe in unison.

"No need for so much ceremony. No need." Su Zhe was a little unused to this and hurriedly waved his hand. After a few simple pleasantries, he let everyone disperse. At present, Yang Dingtian and Wang Shan were dead. Of the Blacksmith Gang's three giants, two were gone. Only Sun Tiexin remained. Li Shanyun had led the Black Cavalry to capture the remnants of the evil cult. While she was at it, she handed the position of the Blacksmith Gang's new leader to Su Zhe. Su Zhe had originally refused.

After all, in terms of seniority, Sun Tiexin was more qualified. Unfortunately, Sun Tiexin was wholeheartedly devoted to guarding Artisan Heart Hall and strongly advocated for Su Zhe to become the new gang leader. Today could be considered the inauguration ceremony for the new gang leader.

"Su Zhe… you… you're the new gang leader?!" Master Chen from the blacksmith shop was completely dumbfounded. He looked at Su Zhe with an expression full of complicated emotions and shock. Behind Master Chen stood Han Yue, who had just been promoted to a high-level apprentice. Master Chen was the blacksmith who had taught Su Zhe when he was still an apprentice. Han Yue had been the mid-level apprentice who worked the bellows for Su Zhe.

Back then, when the Blacksmith Gang's earth dragon had turned over and the heavens seemed to collapse, the two had fled for their lives in panic, thinking the end of the world had come. They had hidden out of town for several days before finally returning to Lu County. By the time Master Chen and Han Yue came back, the entire Lu County had changed completely. A large number of familiar experts had died. As for Su Zhe, he had practically been turned into a legend.

Now, today, Su Zhe had become the new leader of the Blacksmith Gang. These changes had come far too quickly, making it hard for Master Chen to accept.

"What new gang leader? Master Chen, please don't tease me… I'm only doing this so I can… better serve the disciples of the gang." Su Zhe smiled humbly. In name, Su Zhe was the gang leader. But he had already made things clear with Sun Tiexin. Su Zhe would not manage the gang's affairs. Everything would be handed over to Sun Tiexin. Sun Tiexin also knew that with Su Zhe's talent, the higher Su Zhe's own achievements became, the higher the Blacksmith Gang could climb. Naturally, he did not refuse.

Hearing Su Zhe's answer, Master Chen looked dazed. He staggered slightly and muttered,"It's only been half a year… only half a year…" That was right! Too fast! Half a year ago, apprentice Su Zhe had still been sweating under Master Chen's guidance, forging refined iron. He had gone out of his way to please Master Chen, humble and polite. In the blink of an eye, he had become the leader of Lu County's number-one gang, as well as Lu County's strongest expert.

"When the Demon God appeared that day, the Blacksmith Gang suffered heavy casualties, and a number of elders died as well."

"If Master Chen does not mind, you can serve as an internal affairs elder."

"As for Han Yue… let the boy enter the inner sect and practice martial arts." Su Zhe pondered for a moment. Looking at Master Chen and Han Yue, he was also filled with emotion. It gave him the feeling of "old friends returning." These two had karma with him. Su Zhe felt something stir in his heart and decided to repay their kindness.

"We obey the gang leader's command!" The Hall Master of Internal Affairs nodded and cupped his fists.

"I still have important matters to handle. Master Chen, little brother Han Yue, I'll take my leave here. We'll meet again next time!" Su Zhe left those words for Master Chen and Han Yue. Then he drifted away toward Artisan Heart Hall. After he became famous, the wealth of the Blacksmith Gang, the tribute sent by Lu County's other gangs, and the gifts bestowed by Master Yushen were all currently stored in Artisan Heart Hall. Master Chen and Han Yue still had not reacted.

"Congratulations to you both. In the morning, a commoner in the fields; by evening, ascending the emperor's hall…" The Hall Master of Internal Affairs completely changed his earlier arrogance. He bowed to the two of them, his face full of flattering smiles…